In person · Bolton BL1
Face-to-face counselling in Bolton
A private, quiet room at Douglas House on Belmont Road, with free parking nearby. Press button 3 when you arrive.
Visiting the room
Men’s Counselling in Bolton
If you’ve been thinking about counselling but aren’t sure where to start, or whether it’s for you, you’re welcome to get in touch. I offer private counselling for men in Bolton, at Douglas House or online across the UK.
The first step is a free introductory call with me, where you can ask anything before you decide.
- Free introductory call
- £50 for 60 minutes
- In person, online or outdoors
What brings people in
What might bring you to counselling?
There’s rarely one neat reason. You might recognise some of these:
- Pressure at work, or a change or setback that has knocked you
- A relationship that has ended, or is under strain
- A loss, or grief that has never really been talked about
- Feeling low, flat or tired for longer than you’d expect
- Worry or overthinking that’s hard to switch off
- Feeling irritable or on edge more often than you’d like
You don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis, and it doesn’t have to be serious enough. Many people worry they’d be wasting a counsellor’s time because somebody else has it worse. If it’s affecting how you feel day to day, that’s reason enough to talk. If one of these is the main thing, you may want to read about anxiety counselling, depression and low mood counselling or counselling after a bereavement.
If you need help now. I’m not an emergency or crisis service. If there’s an immediate risk to your life, call 999 or go to A&E. If you feel very distressed, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans are free on 116 123, day or night. More about urgent help on the NHS website
Who you’ll be talking to
I’m Andrea Long
I’m a BACP-registered counsellor and psychotherapist (MBACP 414595), trained in counselling and Transactional Analysis at South Manchester Centre for Psychotherapy. I see adults in Bolton, online and outdoors, and I have a particular interest in supporting men, including those who find it hard to open up. When you get in touch I reply personally, and the free introductory call is with me.
Starting out
You don’t have to know where to begin
“…that’s where I’m trained and qualified to help open up the conversation.”Andrea Long, on clients who say they don’t know how to start
Many people tell me they’re not sure how to start, or what to say. We don’t begin with the hard part. We can talk about something ordinary from the last few days, and a small moment can open up into a much deeper conversation.
The other worries I hear are that asking for help means you’re weak, that a counsellor will judge you, that what you say will be shared, or that people will think something is wrong with you. Often they come from stigma and from not knowing what counselling involves. Everyone arrives with their own story, which has shaped how they are today, and that’s what we work through at a pace that suits you.
The relationship between us is where most of the work happens, so you need to be able to trust me with what you share. As I’d put it, “if that trust is not there, that space is not safe for that client.” That’s why I offer a free introductory call before you decide anything.
In sessions
What counselling with me involves
There’s a lot more to it than talking, and no set script.
- Your story
Look at how you got here
I listen, and together we look at how you cope with things now and the patterns that may have formed along the way, including events from earlier in your life when they’re part of the picture.
- Transactional Analysis
Plain-English tools
TA looks at how earlier experiences shape the way we think, feel and react. I bring its ideas in gradually, and over time the aim is to give you tools for everyday situations. I can’t promise any particular result.
- Boundaries
Professional and confidential
I’m on the BACP register and work within the BACP’s Ethical Framework. What you tell me is confidential, within limits I explain before we begin. Sessions are 60 minutes.
Counselling with me is private. Free NHS support is also available: Bolton Talking Therapies is for people aged 16 and over in Bolton, and you can refer yourself online. How Transactional Analysis Therapy works
A first step
Wondering whether this is for you?
The free introductory call is a chance to tell me a little about what’s going on, ask your questions and see whether talking to me feels right. If it doesn’t, there’s no obligation to book.
Prefer to start with a message? WhatsApp me
- Free introductory call
- No obligation to book
- Sessions are £50 for 60 minutes
Ways to meet
Where we can meet
Anywhere in the UK
Online Counselling
Online sessions let you talk from somewhere private and familiar, wherever you are in the UK, at the same £50 fee.
Explore online sessionsOutdoors
Walk and Talk Therapy
If sitting face to face feels like a lot, some people find talking easier while walking side by side. We agree a location in advance, weather permitting.
Explore walking sessionsWhat if I find it hard to talk about how I feel?
Plenty of people do. We don’t have to start with feelings: we can start with what has been happening, and I’ll help the conversation open up from there. Some people find that the plain-English ideas from Transactional Analysis give them words for what’s going on, which can make it easier to describe.
What happens on the introductory call?
It’s a free call of about 10–15 minutes. We introduce ourselves, you briefly tell me why you’d like some help, and you can ask me anything about counselling, my approach or the practical arrangements. We both consider whether we might be a good fit, and you’re under no obligation to book.
Will what I say stay private?
Counselling is a private space to talk. Confidentiality does have some limits, for example if someone is at serious risk of harm or the law requires information to be shared. I’ll explain confidentiality and its limits clearly before counselling begins, and you can ask about anything that’s unclear.
How much does it cost, and how many sessions will I need?
Sessions are £50 for 60 minutes, after the free introductory call. The number of sessions varies depending on what you would like to work on, and we can discuss this during the call. Fees, payment and cancellations
Can I have counselling online, or outdoors?
Yes. Online sessions are available to adults anywhere in the UK, and Walk and Talk sessions take place outdoors by arrangement. Both are the same £50 fee as sessions at Douglas House. Online Counselling · Walk and Talk Therapy
Getting started
Reaching out can feel like the hardest part
Send me a WhatsApp message to arrange a free introductory call. A sentence is plenty, and I’ll reply personally.
Douglas House, 196 Belmont Road, Bolton BL1 7ARPress button 3 when you arrive. Free parking around the building.- £50
- per session, in person, online or outdoors
- 60 minutes
- for every session
- Free
- introductory call before you decide